Bayani Fernando’s Waterloo?

There has been full support from most quarters for the MMDA’s relentless drive against anything that would disrupt the traffic flow of pedestrians in the sidewalk, causing it to spill into the streets to the detriment of having a smooth flow of vehicular traffic, not to mention risks to the pedestrians and motorists alike. The clearing of the sidewalks or the act of giving it back to their rightful users–the pedestrians, involves not only the dismantling of illegal structures, but more controversially, the ejecting of illegal vendors.

Such a bold move of the incumbent MMDA chairman, Bayani Fernando, showed unprecedented political will, which his predecessors all failed to manifest with such intensity in their incumbency. The no-nonsense management of the metro’s services (traffic, garbage, flood control, etc) by the feisty former Marikina City mayor is presently being met with mixed reactions from Metro Manila’s residents and similarly from political observers–from supportive praises and prayers to cynical reactions like, "Let’s see how far he can go." Of course, the reaction from the affected illegal vendors are currently already near to violent.

However, the praises, prayers and support that have been heaped generously to the aggressive MMDA chairman by the multitudes of the metro’s residents may just turn into the opposite with his latest publicized measure to help ease traffic and ensure its smooth flow–the opening up of private subdivisions to public vehicular traffic or literally granting wanton public access to them.

Observers say that if Chairman Fernando gained a lot of friends with his persistent and uncompromising drive against illegal vendors, this move may just earn him a deluge of the wrong enemies who’s frames of mind are to do anything to secure their family’s lives and protect their properties.

Buying into private subdivisions meant a lot of blood, sweat and tears to many. Spending a whole lifetime laboring for one’s family’s comfort, dignity and above everything else–security, is all some people live for.

Now, isn’t making these people sacrifice their security because the government cannot cope with the anarchy in our streets caused by undisciplined drivers–the major root of our country’s traffic mess, utterly unconscionable, if not totally immoral for anyone to merely think of, much more, to actually do?

It is the contention of many that allowing public access to private subdivisions would only broaden the market of victims in the nefarious trade of the "akyat bahay gangs" and other criminal elements. Now that most private subdivisions have yet limited access, many successful heists are being pulled, what more when the public is allowed in? Isn’t that practically feeding these private subdivision dwellers to the wolves, in a silver platter yet, with the letters "BF" etched in bold letters?

Many are urging the good chairman to re-think this measure because people who have their property’s security and family’s lives on the line can be very determined adversaries. It’ll be very sad for the Metro Manilans to see you meet an untimely and undeserved waterloo.

Thanks for your friendship, Otaka-san!

When Honda Cars Philippines called to extend an invitation for breakfast with its outgoing president Mr. Kenjie Otaka, I thought it was going to be a one-on-one, just like the first time I met this gentleman three years ago when he assumed the presidency of one of the largest automakers in the country. Problem was I have always preferred hellos over goodbyes. But I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of my motoring journalism peers in attendance (Armin Amio of Business World, Ron delos Reyes of the TV show Auto Review and Al Mendoza of the Inquirer) together with the ever pretty angels of Arnel Doria (who was out-of-town), Min Magbal, Tin Tin Reyes and Dansel Palma early Friday morning at the unexpectedly very busy EDSA Shangri-La Garden Café. I didn’t realize a lot of people were already awake at 8 am, when, being a night person, I would normally be still in dreamland.

When I met Mr. Otaka at the hotel lobby, his first reaction was to quip, "You are unexpectedly up early!" I felt complemented with such a remark coming from a respectable Japanese executive. It meant only one thing–he was treating as much a friend as I have been treating him. Though I was really hoping that he would realize that, considering that I have always been known as a hater of early morning meetings, and I considered this a very important one. And I could only muster a similarly sincere line. "I have not realized my dream of beating you in golf, Otaka-san and now you are leaving the Philippines already."

Mr. Kenjie Otaka has always been known to be close to the local media. He would always make sure that he was in all the events and affairs of Honda, except when he is out of the country, and mingled and joked with the members of the "Fourth Estate" who cover the motoring and automotive sectors.

During our candid chat while having breakfast, he admitted to being talkative. But my good friend Al had to politely correct him, "We don’t think you are talkative, as talkative means, talking and talking without sense, while you may speak a lot, you speak with substance."

When asked what’s his most lasting impression about the Philippines, Otaka-san did not tarry a bit when he admitted that in many countries that he had been, "It is only in the Philippines where friendship really means a lot."

Mr. Kenjie Otaka leaves the Philippines, and upon his own admission with a heavy heart, on the first week of October for a larger market, which is Indonesia to head its local Honda office. What a price to pay for a successful 3-year stint in the country.

Well, Otaka-san, we’ll miss your Elvis Presley singing and dancing, your generous treatment of the spoiled local motoring journalists and most of all, your friendship. Good luck on your new endeavors.

Dodo Ayuyao Sampaguita Rally

Over lunch at the Calatagan Resort in Batangas, where the Dodo Ayuyao Sampaguita Rally had its break in between legs, veteran rallyist Tony Mapa, who was participating handicapped "kuno" with his son performing the combined chores of time and route navigator, said that if he would win the rally he would just gladly take the role of a Grand Marshall in future sampaguita rallies.

Well, Tony and son Nikko won the rally hands-down, considering that they ran handicapped and yet registered only a total of 158 demerits, 23 less than the 2nd placer Valera/Aurelio/Gomez Team which had 181 demerits and 212 less than 3rd place Galan/Deakin/Guevarra Team which had 370 demerits. So Tony, it’s grand marshalling for you the next time.

Ok, ok, you are asking how we performed. Well the first leg was a honest-to-goodness catastrophe as we missed 2 checkpoints due to a route navigational miscue for an automatic 300 demerits for each or a total of 600, to begin with. Our originally assigned route navigator, STV’s VP for production, Jenny Bleza couldn’t make it. Our ace cameraman Matt Mallari took over in tandem with Motoring Today’s supervising producer, Arrin Villareal who took charge of time navigation. I was having a dual role of driving for the rally and at the same time test-driving the all new Ford Escape, which made a lot of heads turn during the event and gave such an outstanding performance all throughout the rally (Our thanks to the Ford Group Philippines marketing avp, Maricar Parco). After the nightmare during the 1st leg, we made well on the second leg with the boys getting the hang of the navigation. We didn’t win the rally but we tremendously enjoyed the day. After all, nothing beats participating in a sampaguita rally and yet with a brand new, well performing Ford Escape to boot.

Happy motoring!!!

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